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World War I
Page 5
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Richthofen Commemorative Goggled Skull Ring (Item WWI 5-1; LUFT 7-4) |
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| DESCRIPTION: This is a biker-looking ring that is definitely, most emphatically NOT a biker ring. This is an elegant and prodigiously important historical relic of the both WWI and WWII. The special denotation of the ring comes from the grim, but realistic, view that the German pilots had of the air war of WWI. The significance and morbid gravity was that death was the immutable Kamerad of the Kampfflieger, fighter pilot. The flyer knew that unless he were inordinately fortuitous that he would meet the Grim Reaper just as his enemies did that he so often sent to their doom. The grinning death's head was seen on jackets and on the fuselages of the planes very often though rather grotesque the skull often was the symbol not only of the war flyers, but also of the WWI Stosstruppen, Storm Troopers, and other elite units. It became the badge of the gallant and immortal heroes of combat. One look at this splendidly designed exquisite ring and it can be very expeditiously determined that this is the genuine article. It is tastefully designed, simple yet artistically convoluted enough to make it unique among death's head rings of the era. The skull is deeply set inside of the headpiece and chinstrap. The goggles on the forehead and the wings that surround and then sweep back forming the shank of the ring all join to make this such a jeweler's and designer's masterpiece. Although the ring was designed and offered to airmen of WWI (especially the men of the famed Richthofen Flying Circus), it carried over to WWII and the Luftwaffe personnel of the flying arm relished this ring and it became a very sought-after item of imposing attire. The inside shank has the almost obligatory "835" for silver content in the stamped form. Overall, this is one of the most awesome, magnificent rings we have ever found. It was made in Lüdenscheid where many jewelers were proud to manufacture such imaginative artistic offerings.
PRICE: SOLD |
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Magnificent Silver Box from the Field Battle of WW I (Item WWI 5-2) |
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| DESCRIPTION: This is a fantastic find of WWI aesthetics. A magnificent box crafted in genuine sterling silver that is huge compared to other boxes of its type. It measures 10 ½ inches across. It's 8 inches wide and 3 inches deep. It has no dents or scratches and is in absolutely beautiful condition throughout. The right bottom corner has the words "Feldzug 1914-16," "Field Campaign." The edges of the lid have the finest of Greek key, highly enunciated design. The top left corner has a wonderfully detailed silver-dollar-sized medallion imbedded into the box. This depicts in high relief the legend of Saint Hubertus, the logo of all German huntsmen and hunting societies. This to us indicates that the high-ranking German officer to whom this was presented as a civilian perhaps had a preoccupation with the hunting sports. Wonderful! When the box is opened before your eyes there is a spectacular potpourri of signatures of all the officers and noncoms who served under him, and the St. Hubertus medallion is shown as well from the other side. Oak leaves and pine branches are shown to complete the forest motif. The words are translated loosely to say in grateful thanks to the unforgettable corps group commandant we served with. The word "train" in Korpstrain is hard to translate, but seems to mean 'small, elite' group within the division itself. We have seen other of these remembrance boxes, but this one is definitely the finest and largest we have ever encountered. This particular example is worthy of the finest museum or private collection. They just don't come any better. This is ultra-dramatic and beautiful.
PRICE: $2,500.00 NO LONGER AVAILABLE |
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WWI Pilot's Ring (Item WWI 5-3; KJEWELRY 1-7) |
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| DESCRIPTION: This is one of the most beautiful of the WWI rings. It is the Prussian flyer's badge done up as a ring. It depicts the early airplane flying over a village. The plane is within a wreath for victory with the Prussian crown at the top. Fine leaf design adorns the shank and sides. It's of pure silver. A fine example of the Grossezeit and the glory of the pilots, who were the bravest of the brave while observing real chivalry in warfare; this, itself, being a relic of the past. This ring was not made in the WW-I period. Rather, it was produced in the 1930s and 1940s by a renowned jeweler who produced many "tradition rings" for various retailers in the Third Reich period. These rings could be bought and worn by all personnel who served in any of Germany's air-arm services in the past regardless of whether they were pilots, air-crew members, mechanics, etc. In fact, anyone simply wanting to commemorate the heroic struggle could buy such a ring. We managed to obtain several of these ring pieces at the Stuttgart Waffen-Borse a few years ago. Regardless of when the rings were made (actually over 60 years ago), they are most definitely important and original historical relics and a great addition to any good collection of Luftwaffe, Imperial, or general Germanic military assemblages.
PRICE: $475.00 |
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German Paris Medal (Item WWI 5-4) |
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| DESCRIPTION: This bronze medal commemorates the hoped-for entrance of the German Army into Paris in 1914. The words around the beautifully detailed 1914 Iron Cross translate to: "Determination to Achieve the Stated Objective" (entrance into Paris). The front of this fine medallion shows the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower with a sunburst design with 1871-1914. No doubt commemorating the victory over France in the Franco-Prussian War and the hopes for repeating the performance in 1914. The medal's diameter is 2 inches and it is not only historically important, but beautiful in design.
PRICE: SOLD |
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Patriotic Book Cover (Item WWI 5-5; KCLOTH 1-7) |
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| DESCRIPTION: This is a beautiful book cover of fine-grade linen with embroidered overlay design. The motif is the German flag of black, white, and red supported by beautifully executed oak leafs with a ribbon whose message proclaims, "Durch Kampf zum Sieg!," "Through struggle comes victory!" It was made for a large book and it measures 14 1/2 x 10 ½ inches when folded. Fully open to both sides naturally doubles the measurement. This was most probably the work of a patriotic lady possibly with a soldier-husband or sweetheart. It would be great as a cover for a treasured item or in the alternative it could be framed as a great collection accouterment in itself. It has historic importance as well as beauty.
PRICE: $225.00. |
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Imperial Naval Dagger (Item WWI 5-6; KRIEG 3-9) |
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| DESCRIPTION: This is a particularly fine iron-mounted Imperial naval dagger. This is one great example of an especially rare relic of the Great War. This is the 1901 officer pattern. The dagger has the open-finial crown. The perfect ivory grip is wrapped with wire. There is no maker mark on the Ricasso indicating issue instead of private purchase. This piece is very similar to the example shown in Tom Wittman’s, Exploring the Dress Daggers of the German Navy, page 103, although we do not believe it to be a shortened example. It has the squared cross in the top of the finial as shown and described by Wittman on page 113 (left picture). The fittings are in the iron formation plated in brass or gold. Although at the time of issue these iron models cost less. Today, they are more rare and desirable probably because these iron models were definitely wartime and worn by combatant officers. The almost-mint-condition blade is etched with a very different design than the types usually encountered. The front side has the Prussian crown and fouled anchor, but the backside of the blade has the clipper-type ship, but the waves under it are very pronounced and they traverse much of the blade giving a large part of the blade a Damascus look. This is a superior naval dagger in very way. It is historically important and classic.
PRICE: SOLD |
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Giant Book on Germany’s Enemies in the World War (Item WWI 5-7) |
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| DESCRIPTION: Deutschlands Gegner im Weltkrieg published by the Hermann Klemm Verlag in Berlin Grunewald; probably in the 1920’s. It’s comprised of 310 pages with foldout maps at the back of the book and hundreds of full-color full-page pictures of the forces opposing Germany in WWI. Many are respectfully presented while many are depicted as savages and subhuman. The book measures a whopping 16 X 12 inches and is 1 ½ inches thick: very heavy. This was a limited printing published mainly for libraries and university archives. It is rare and extremely important. Condition is excellent plus!
PRICE: SOLD |
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Imperial Zeppelin Badge (Enameled) (Item WWI 5-8; ZEP 1-1; KMEDAL 2-8;) |
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| DESCRIPTION: This is an important badge that was worn by members of an institute that was commissioned by the Kaiser's offices to promote air travel--Deutsches Verein fur Luftfahrt, German Organization for the Promotion of Air Travel. This was an important group of chosen technicians, bankers, businessmen, who were brought together for not only the launching of the first Zeppelins but for serious promotion of these great airships for commercial and possibly military usage. Pictured with the famous 'Z' of the company in Friedrichshafen is the LZ2. The 'L' stood for Luft, the German word for air and the 'Z' for its inventor Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin. This is quite a beautiful badge and also quite historically significant as well. The back of pin is marked Mayer & Wilhelm Stuttgart. This was the maker of these artistically beautiful pins.
PRICE: $485.00 |
Page Five |
Please refer to item designator in parentheses in all correspondence.
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